Exploring death and loss : a social constructionist perspective

Abstract:

Death and loss accompany us throughout our lives and are experienced in a variety of
forms and situations. Numerous researches have been undertaken to gain some
perspective on death. and loss, however these attempts have proven to be impersonal,
incomplete and of limited use, as death tends to evade direct scrutiny. An attempt is
made here to observe death and loss from a stance that respects the human element.
The personal experiences of adults who have lost parent/s at a young age are examined.
This paper explores the constructions of death and loss, as well as the meanings that
are attributed to these experiences. A social constructionist approach is used to gain a
more comprehensive understanding of the participants' relationships with death and
loss. One of the primary aims of this paper is to investigate the implications that these
constructions of death and loss have for the way people live and make sense of their
lives. This study focusses on how death requires the individual to reconstruct a sense of
identity and relationship with the world. Some of the major conceptualisations of death, loss and mourning are reviewed in conjunction with the input of philosophers, poets and creative writers allowing for a richer, fuller perception of these events. The aim of this paper is not to develop a comprehensive understanding of death and loss, but rather to approach these constructs from a more personal perspective. This paper moves away from modernist thinking and includes the researcher as a participant where personal biases, experiences and understandings are included.